the said Morlan up to the publick as an enemy to their rights and liberties; and have ordered that this Resolution be published in the Virginia Gazette.

CHRISTOPHER GREENUP, Clerk.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO GERARD HOPKINS, JUN.

SIR: The Council of Safety are desirous of knowing what publick arms are at Baltimore Town, in the magazine, in the hands of the manufacturers, and elsewhere; and request you would immediately send them down, if there be twenty or upwards, that a distribution may be made amongst the Independent Companies. We want but few arms now, including those we have here, to arm all the companies completely. We are, &c.

To Gerard Hopkins, Jun.

R. H. HARRISON TO COLONEL TUPPER.

New-York, May 14, 1776.

SIR: His Excellency received yours of the 13th instant, and it is his desire that you take every possible means to prevent an intercourse and communication with the ship-of-war, and to hurry the fitting of the other boats.

As to dislodging the people at the Light-House, he does not mean to advise an attempt, unless you are morally certain that it will be attended with success. A miscarriage would damp the spirits of the men at the first set-out, be held disgraceful, and the experiment in such case be considered as a departure from the plan and design you went on.

I am, sir, yours, &c.,

R. H. HARRISON.

To Lieutenant-Colonel Benjamin Tupper.

CHRISTOPHER SMITH TO ROBERT BENSON.

Long-Island, Jamaica, May 14, 1776.

SIR: Observing in yesterday’s newspaper a resolve from the Congress, ordering every person who has withdrawn himself from the city, since the 1st of June last, to return without delay; as I do not know (though I have not been without having some of my family here for this two years past) whether I may not be included among those who have withdrawn, (at the same time I would inform you that, through the infirmity of my body, I have been excused any duty in the city for this eighteen years past,) I would request, if I am not included among those who have withdrawn, that the Congress will be pleased to grant me a certificate, that I may show it to the Committee of this town, that I am excluded from said resolve; but if I am not, I will return to the city when desired; which am to beg you will be pleased to return me answer.

I am, with respect, sir, your most obedient servant,

CHRISTOPHER SMITH.

To Mr. Robert Benson.

COLONEL LIVINGSTON TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Fort Constitution, May 14, 1776.

SIR: I arrived here the 9th instant, but did not take the command till to-day, as Colonel Nicoll did not think himself relieved before.

These garrisons are, at present, in a most deplorable situation, as your Excellency may observe by the enclosed returns. We are also much in want of an Infirmary, as the sick and well are obliged to huddle together in the same rooms. The Commissioners desired me to mention this matter to your Excellency as worthy of attention.

The fortifications intended here, with a few improvements, will render them almost impregnable, and impassable, if a boom was thrown across the river opposite them, which I think very practicable, as the river at this place is no more than five hundred yards, its depth eighteen fathoms, the tide not so rapid as at New-York, and a very bold shore. Two whaleboats, with oars, at each post, are much wanted, to render the communication more easy. I fancy they might now be bought cheap at New-York, as they cannot be employed in the fishery; also, a boat to transport stores from one post to another.

Colonel Nicoll tells me he represented to your Excellency the necessity of an allowance of rum for the men upon fatigue at this post, and that your reply was that they should be allowed a gill per man. An order from your Excellency to the Commissary-General would procure us a supply of that necessary article; on working parties its efficacy is well known. The whole garrison are upon duty every day at this post, and continue on fatigue nine hours a day. This garrison has been supplied with fresh provisions only once within the month—I fear an omission in the Commissary; if continued much longer will infallibly introduce the scurvy here.

I fear I tire you; but thought it my duty to give your Excellency an exact account of the state of these garrisons, that if anything unfortunate should happen, my reputation should not lay open to censure. Some tents will be necessary here, about twenty. I send this by Lieutenant Smith, who will receive any orders your Excellency shall think proper to favour me with. When I begin to think of our wants, they occur so fast that I fear I shall never have done. The Committee have supplied us with no money yet.

I remain, with all respect, your Excellency’s most obedient, humble servant,

HENRY B. LIVINGSTON,
Lieutenant-Colonel commanding at these Garrisons.

To His Excellency General Washington.

WILLIAM ELLSWORTH TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

Kingston, May 14, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: Whereas a resolve of Congress, bearing date the 3d of April last past, ordering the discharge of Azor Betts and John Blackner out of our jail, provided they would comply with the directions mentioned in the said resolve: The resolve was delivered to the Committee of Kingston, by the hands of Blackner’s wife. The Committee, after reading the resolve, concluded to discharge the prisoners mentioned in said resolve, although the Committee had no particular orders so to do; but did discharge them on this express condition, that the prisoners should go down to New-York, and appear before the Committee of Safety or the Provincial Congress, and acquaint either of the Houses aforementioned in what manner and how they were discharged. The Committee also promised the prisoners that the Committee would write a letter to the Committee of Safety or Provincial Congress, on what condition the Committee had discharged the prisoners. On which condition the prisoners promised to go down to New-York, and appear before the Congress; but Mr. Blackner, instead of complying with his promise made to the Committee of Kingston, has endeavoured by various pretences to elude his promise, and trifle with the Committee, to serve his own sinister views; and in order to give a plausible pretence for his staying here? the Committee have information that Blackner has written a letter to the Provincial Congress that the Committee detained him here, and would not let him have his liberty. The Committee are highly affronted that the Committee should be charged with detaining him, when the Committee, out of mere compassion, released him on the condition above-mentioned. He, as a base fellow, deceived us, and charges the Committee with a notorious falsehood; therefore the Committee have now ordered him to go down and appear before the Congress, to make him comply with his promise to the Committee, and the order of the Committee; and if the Congress think he deserves more compliments, they shall rest the matter with the Congress; and remain your humble servants.

By order of the Committee:

WILLIAM ELLSWORTH, Chairman.

BRYAN LEFFERTY TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Esopus, May 14, 1776.

SIR: By my repeated applications to you, I fear that I trespass on the goodness of a person to whom I am an utter stranger; and the only excuse I can plead in justification of writing so often is, that of unjust treatment, and the natural disposition of mankind to apply where there grievances may be redressed. On the 21st of January last one of the Committee for the County of Tryon (where I formerly resided) called on me to go a few miles to a house where part of the Committee were then sitting, and at the